Postnatal social support doesn't improve women's health

Many women report longlasting physical or mental health problems after their baby is born. Social support is believed to be helpful during pregnancy and labour, and additional support from a healthcare professional has been associated with improvements in breast feeding. The effects of offering postnatal social support have not, until now, been evaluated for UK women. On p 593 Morrell et al report on a randomised controlled trial in over 600 women that examined the effects of community midwifery support workers offering social support after birth. Women thought the service was great, but they had no improved physical or emotional health compared with women who received the usual care from community midwives.

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Relevant Article

Costs and effectiveness of community postnatal support workers: randomised controlled trial

C Jane Morrell, Helen Spiby, P Stewart, S Walters, and A Morgan
BMJ 2000 321: 593-598. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]